Ink supply device for mimeographing machine

ABSTRACT

An ink supply device, for a mimeographing machine, mechanically detects the decrease in the number of copy sheets in a stack and which takes place as printing progresses, and supplies an optimum quantity of ink to a printing cylinder in proportion to the decrease in the number of copy sheets in the stack.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,749,009 Suzuki 1 July 31, 1973 INK SUPPLY DEVICE FOR 2,161,795 6/1939 Benello 101/132.5 MIM R PH MACHINE 2,745,340 5/1956 Ritzerfeld et al. 101/132.5 3,006,061 10/1961 Zahradnik 101/119 lnventorI Minor Suzuki, Yokohama. J p 3,580,567 5/1971 1133111111616 271/62 2,993,438 7/1961 Stephenson 101/132.5 [73] Ass'gnee' f 2,262,511 11/1941 Morrison 101/1325 2,821,910 2/1958 Mazzio er a1. 101/1325 [22] Filed: July 26, 1971 p [21] Appl. No.: 166,077 Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant Examiner-William Pieprz [30] Foreign Appliufionlhiority Data Attorney-John J. McGlew et 211.

July 31, 1970 Japan 45/67579 52 us. Cl 101/122, 101/119, 101/366 [571 I ABSTRACT An device for a mimeographing machine, 1 62 mulls mechanically detects the decrease in the number of l 1 I copy sheets in a stack and which takes place as printing 122 progresses, and supplies an optimum quantity of ink to a printing cylinder in proportion-to the decrease in the [56] Run-mm cued number of copy sheets in the stack.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,996,709 4/1935 Ritzerteld 101/132.5 7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIED I 3. M90609 sum 1 or &

INVENTOR MINORU suzuw Pmmcuwm ma SHEET 2 OF 4 INVENTOR MmoRu suzum GTTORN y PAIENIEB JUL3 I ma saw u (If 4 INVBNTOR v MINORU $020K] WTORNEY INK SUPPLY DEVICE FOR MIMEOGRAPHING MACHINE FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to mimeographing machines and, more particularly, to a novel, improved and simplified ink supply device for mimeographing machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally, a rotary mimeographing machine comprises a pair of printing cylinders,, about which an endless screen of fine mesh is. trained, a pair of ink form rollers maintained in pressing engagement with the printing cylinders, and an impression roller maintained in pressing engagement with one of the printing cylinders, with a screen being interposed therebetween. Printing of copysheets is carried out as a copy sheet, fed by a sheet feed device, is brought by the impression roller into pressing engagement with a stencil copy of 2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The objective of the present invention is to provide an ink supply device for mimeographing machines, whichissimple in construction and which is adapted to produce an ink supply command singal as the downward movement of a copy sheet feed roller reaches a predetermined amount after a substantially uniform number of sheets has been printed. Thereby, a quantity of ink can be delivered to the periphery of one of the printing cylinders to replenish the ink thereon.

Another objective of the invention is to provide an ink supply device, for mimeographing machines, which is effective to prevent a large quantity of ink from being supplied unnecessarily to the printing cylinder responsive to the copy sheet feed roller being in its lower position whereinan ink supply command signal is continuously produced eventhough no copysheets are placed on the feed tray or the feedtray is moved downwardly either manually or automatically. To this end, the ink supply device delivers a quantity of ink to the printing cylinder only when a copy sheet feed operation is performed, and as a result of production of an ink supply command signal, so that excess supply of ink to the printing cylinder is prevented when this is not required.

In accordance with the invention, the ink supply device is simple in construction and reliable in performance, and automatically performs an ink supply operation in conjunction with the upward movement of a copy sheet feed tray. The supply device replenishes ink on the printing cylinder, to compensate for reduction in the supply of ink on the cylinder as printing progresses, by delivering a quantity of ink without requiring any means for counting the number of sheets fed or any mechanism for issuing instructions for initiating an ink supply.

The ink supply device of the present invention operates in a mannersuch thatthe ink supplymechanism is not rendered operative when no copy sheet is fed to the printing cylinder, even if an ink supply command signal is given to the ink supply mechanism. A quantity of ink is delivered to the printing cylinder only when an ink supply command signal is produced to render the supply mechanism operative and in conjunction with the operation of the copy sheet device. The ink supply mechanism is not operative when the pair of printing cylinders is idling and the copy sheet feed roller is in its lower position, because the stack of copy sheets on the feed tray is not at a required level. This occurs when an ink supply command signal is continuously produced,

so that it is possible to prevent ink from being supplied in excess to the printing cylinder.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved ink supply device for a mimeographing machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an ink supply device which is simple in construction and reliable in operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide such an ink supply device which operates only responsive to a predetermined reduction in the number of sheets in a stack of copy sheets.

For an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of an ink supply device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are side elevation views of the copy sheet feed mechanism;

FIG. 4 is side elevation view of the ink supply device in its state when no copy sheet is fed;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the ink supply device in the state where a copy sheet feed operation is performed and an ink supply command signal is produced; and

FIGS. 6, 7, and 8 are partial side elevation views explanatory of the manner in which the ink supply device operates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a mimeograph machine is illustrated as including two printing cylinders l and 2 about which an endless screen 3, of fine mesh, is trained, screen 3 mounting a stencil copy of an original print (not shown). Cylinders 1 and 2, which are adapted to rotate counter-clockwise, are supported by respective shafts 4 and 5 in turn supported, at their ends, in side plate 6 of the mimeographing machine. Endless screen 3 also travels in a counterclockwise direction.

Ink form rollers 9 and 11 are mounted on respective shafts 7 and 8 supported in side plates 6, and are maintained in engagement with the peripheries of cylinders 1 and 2, as shown in FIG. I. An ink supply line 12, formed with a number of small opening 124, extends parallel to the periphery of printing cylinder 1, and is connected to an ink supply pump 13 mounted at the upper left portion of a side plate 6 andoperable either manually or automatically, as described hereinafter, to deliver a suitable quantity of ink to printing cylinder].

An actuation cam 14 is mounted on shaft 4 of cylinder 1, and is rotated in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of cylinder 1, or clockwise, by a gearing (not shown) provided between cylinder 1 and cam 14. Cam 14 has a major diameter portion 14a with which a roller 16, mounted on a follower 15, is maintained in pressing engagement. Follower 15 is loosely mounted, at its base, on a shaft 17 connected to side plate 6, and has a V-shaped arm 18 secured thereto.

A spring 19 connected between a pin 18a, on arm 18, an side plate 6, biases arm 18 to pivot clockwise. A screw 21 threadedly engaged in a bent portion 18b of arm 18 is maintained in pressing engagement with the lower edge of follower 15 by the bias of spring 19, so that follower 15 tends to pivot clockwise about shaft 17.

Two support arms 22, forming a pair, are secured at their bases to shaft 17 and support, at their free ends; and through shafts, an impression cylinder 23 for pressing a copy sheet against cylinder 1. The support arms 22 are substantially integral with arm 18 through being connected to shaft 17, and thus impression cylinder 23 is biased by spring 19 to pivot clockwise about the axis of shaft 17.

The left end of follower 15 is formed with a projection 15a against which a bent portion 24a, formed in a shorter arm of a detector 24, is positioned, as best seen in FIG. 4. The left end of follower 15 is also formed with an offset portion 15b engaged by the free end 24b of a longer arm of detector 24.

Detector 24 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 25 supported in a side plate 6, and biased counterclockwise by a spring 26 connected between the detector and a side plate 6. As shown in FIG. 2, a copy sheet detecting rod 27 has its base secured to the shorter arm of detector 24, and has its free end portion extending between copy sheet guide plates 28 and 29. The free end portion 270 of rod 27 pivots clockwise about shaft 25 as a copy sheet moves through guide plates 28 and 29.

A large number of copy sheets 32 are stacked on a copy sheet feed tray 31, and a copy sheet feed roller 33 is maintained in pressing engagement with the uppermost copy sheet. Feed roller 33 is mounted on a shaft 34 connected to the free ends of supports 35 whose bases are supported on a shaft 36 mounted in side plate 6. A gear 38 is mounted on shaft 34 and connected thereto through a 1-way clutch 37, gear 38 meshing with an idler gear 39, supported by supports 35, meshing with a segmental gear 41 supported by shaft 36.

Segmental gear 41 has an arm 41a to which there is connected, through a pivot 43, one end of a connecting rod 42 whose other end is connected by a pivot 45 to a pivotal arm 44, as shown in FIG. 3. The base of arm 44 is secured to a shaft 46 supported in side plate 6, and a spring 47 is connected between a side plate 6 and the free end of pivotal arm 44.

Another segmental gear 48 is mounted on shaft 46 so as to be fixed relative to arm 44, and a roller 49 mounted on a pivot on an arm 48a of gear 48 is biased by spring 47 to press against the periphery of a copy sheet feed cam 51 mounted on shaft 4 of cylinder 1. Feed cam 51 is urged to rotate clockwise about shaft 4 through a reverse gearing, in the same manner as cam 14 is actuated and as described with reference to FIG. 1.

A pinion 49a is maintained in mesh with segmental gear 48, and is mounted on a shaft 52 to which it is con nected through a one-way clutch 50. A delivery roller 53 is secured on shaft 52, and another delivery roller 54 forming a pair with roller 53 is positioned above the latter to bear thereagainst under gravity bias, as shown in FIG. 2. One-way clutch 37, shown in FIG. 2, is effective to transmit torque to copy sheet feed roller 35 only when gear 38 rotates counterclockwise or when segmental gear 48 of FIG. 3 pivots clockwise, and does not transmit a torque when gear 38 rotates clockwise. Conversely, one-way clutch 50, shown in FIG. 3, is effective to apply torque only when segmental gear 48 pivots counterclockwise, so as to preclude simultaneous rotation of copy sheet feed roller 35 and the pair of delivery rollers 53, 54.

As shown in FIG. 3, an actuating member 55 is secured to shaft 36 mounting support 35, which is shown in FIG. 2. A bent portion 57a of a charging member 57 is held against a screw 56 threadedly mounted on a bent portion 55a on the lower edge of actuating member 55. Charging member 57 is supported by a shaft 58 connected to a side plate 6. A first locking member 59 has its base pivotally connected to shaft 58, and a compression spring 61 is secured to a projection 59a of locking member 59 and to the right end portion of charging member 57. Another bent portion 57b of charging member 57 is biased by spring 61 to press against the upper edge of first locking member 59.

A drive member 62 is fonned with a bent portion 62a locked by a hook 59b of locking member 59, and is secured to a shaft 63 connected to a side plate 6. Drive member 62 is biased in a counterclockwise direction by a spring 64 secured to an arm 62b of drive member 62 and to a side plate 6. A roller 65, mounted at the right end of drive member 62, is biased against copy sheet feed cam 51 by spring 64.

A feed pawl 66 is mounted on a pivot 67 connected to am 62b of drive member 62, and spring biased, by a spring which has not been shown, to pivot clockwise about pivot 67. Feed pawl 66 is maintained in engagement with a ratchet wheel 68 mounted on a shaft 69 connected to side plate 6, and maintained in meshing engagement with a stopper pawl 68a for preventing reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel.

Drive member 62 is oscillated about shaft 63 in a manner described hereinafter and,due to this oscillation of member 62, feed pawl 66 angularly displaces ratchet wheel 68 clockwise. A gear 71 is secured to shaft 69 mounting ratchet wheel 68, as best seen in FIG. 2, and meshes with a rack 31a mounted on copy sheet feed tray 31 so as automatically to lift copy sheet feed tray 31 by the clockwise angular displacement of ratchet wheel 68. It will be understood that ratchet wheel 68 can also be operated manually from the outside, so that copy sheet feed tray 31 can be lifted manually as well as automatically.

Referring to FIG. 3, an ink supply command lever 72 is secured to shaft 63 mounting drive member 62, and has attached to its free end a pin 72a which presses against a side edge 74a of a second locking member 74, supported by a shaft 73 connected to side plate 6, as shown in FIG. 1. Locking member 74 is biased to pivot about shaft 73 by a spring 75 secured to member 74 and to side plate 6. Locking member 74 has one end portion thereof formed with an offset portion 74b, adapted to be engaged by a bent portion 760 of an actuation member 76.

Actuation member 76 is supported by a shaft 77 mounted in a side plate 6, and biased counterclockwise about shaft 77 by a spring 78 having one end secured to a side plate 6 and the other end secured to member 76. Member 76 has an arm 76c whose end is positioned so that actuation member 76 moves in slaved relation when follower pivots about shaft 17. Normally, ac-

tuation member 76 is locked against movement, by second locking member 74.

Member 76 has another arm 76b whose free end is connected to the base of a hook member 81 by a pivot 82. Hook member 81 has a short arm 81a extending to the left and having its lower end engaging a pin 83a secured to an ink supply regulating lever 83 pivotally supported by shaft 77.

Characters 84, indicating the quantity of the ink supply or the rate of supply, are printed on an arcuate portion 83b of ink supply regulating lever 83, and can be viewed througlina window 85 formed in a side plate 6.

An arcane s of 83c is formed in amns'sanssh 83b of lever 85, and is part of a circle whose center is at shaft 77. Slot 83c restricts the range of movement of lever 83, by virtue of a stop 86 secured to the inner surface of a side plate 6 and extending through slot 83 and provided with a flush spring 87 pressing against lever 83 with a suitable resilient force to prevent inadvertent displacement of lever 83 from a position in which it has been set.

A spring 91 is connected between hook member 81 and the lower end of an operation member 89 supported on a shaft 88 mounted on side plate 6 Spring91 biases hook member 81 to pivot counterclockwise about shaft 82. By bringing the short arm 81a of hook member 81 into engagement with pin 83a of regulating lever 83, hook member 81 is held fixed in the position shown in FIG. 1.

Operation member 89 carries a pin 89a which is engageable by hook 81b of book member 81. When hook member 81 pivots about shaft 77 together with its shaft 82, it engages and moves pin 89a so as to move operation member 89 clockwise about shaft 88. A roller 90 mounted on the back surface of member 89 and engaged loosely between flanges 92a and 92b on a pin or shaft 92 of ink supply pump 13. When operation member 89 pivots about shaft 88 to reciprocate shaft 92 horizontally, a quantity of ink is delivered from ink supply pump 13 to supply line 12 arranged in the vicinity of the periphery of printing cylinder 1.

Referring to FIG. 3, a locking member 93 engages an offset portion 440 at the free end of arm 44, to prevent pivoting of arm 44 and segmental gear 48 which is substantially fixed with respect to arm 44. When a command to commence copy sheet feed is given to the copy sheet feed mechanism, the force with which locking member 93 engages offset portion 44a of arm 44 is reduced, thus unlocking segmental gear 48. Unlocking of gear 48 occurs when copy sheet feed cam 51 rotates angularly in the direction of the arrow and roller 49 of gear 48 rides on a protuberance 51c of cam 51, or when arm 44 is released from engagement with locking member 93. When feed cam 51 rotates further in a clockwise direction and roller 49 engages minor diameter portion 51b of cam 51, arm 44, which is fixed with respect to gear 48, pivots clockwise about shaft 46. Such pivotal movement of arm 44 causes gear 41 shown in 1 10. 2, to rotate counterclockwise about shaft 36,

through the connecting rod 42. This causes copy sheet feed roller 33, through gears 39 and 38 and oncway clutch 37, to rotate counterclockwise, so that one copy sheet'is fed from the stack between the delivery rollers 53 and 54.

On the other hand, when actuation cam 14 in FIG. 1 rotates clockwise and roller 16 of follower 15 rides on a protuberance of cam 14, follower 15 is moved slightly downwardly from the solid line position to the dash and dot line position shown in FIG. 1. As a result, bent portion 240 of detector 24 is moved slightly downwardly by projection 15a and, at the same time, the high force with which free end 24b of detector 24 engages offset portion 15b of follower 15 is reduced.

When the force with which detector 24 engages follower 15 is reduced, the leading end of a copy sheet fed by feed roller 33 moves detecting rod 27 of detector 241 downwardly against the spring 26. This causes detector 24 to pivot clockwise about shaft 25, so that the free end 24b of detector 24 is released from engagement with offset portion 15b of follower 15, with the result that follower 15 is free to move.

In FIG. 3, when copy sheet feed cam 51 rotates further in a clockwise direction, and roller 49 of gear 48 rides on the major diameter portion 51a of cam 51 again, gear 48 pivots counterclockwise and is restored to its original position. This return movement of gear 48 causes, through pinion 49a and one-way clutch 59, feed roller 33 and delivery roller 53 (FIG. 2) to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively, thereby delivering a copy sheet to printing cylinder 1.

Conversely, when roller 16 of'follower 15 engages minor diameter portion 14b of cam 14, due to rotation of cam 14 clockwise as viewed in P16. 1, support 22 which is substantially fixed with arm 18 pivots, as shown in FIG. 5, under the bias of spring 19. As a con sequence, impression roller 23 presses the copy sheet, delivered by rollers 53 and 54 of FIG. 2, against the stencil copy of an original mounted on endless screen 3 so as to make a copy of the latter, While roller 16 of follower 15 is engagement with minor diameter portion 14b of cam 14, the copy sheet is printed and, when printing is finished, roller 16 rides on the major diameter portion 14a again and is moved outwardly permitting follower 15 to pivot counterclockwise. This pivoting of follower 15 releases impression roller 23 from engagement with printing cylinder 1 and restores the impression roller to the original positon shown in F10. 1. The operation of pivoting impression roller 23 about shaft 17 into engagement with cylinder 1 is performed each time one copy sheet is fed, and is repeated until copy sheet feed is stopped when the printing is completed.

As printing progresses, the quantity of ink on cylinders 1 and 2 will be reduced and it will become necessary to replenish the ink. if a fresh supply of ink is regulated in proportion to the number of revolutions of cylinders 1 and 2, ink will be supplied when cylinders 1 and 2 idle while no copy sheet is fed, with a result that excess ink will be collected on the cylinders causing trouble. if a fresh supply of ink is regulated in association with the upward movement of the copy sheet feed tray, which takes place automatically as copy sheets thereon are reduced in number, there will be no trouble when a printing operation is acutally performed. However, this arrangement will cause trouble when the copy sheet feed tray is moved upwardly either manually or automatically after copy sheets are placed thereon prior to the initiation of printing, because a quantity of ink will be supplied to cylinders 1 and 2 unnecessarily.

Optimum quantities of fresh ink can be delivered, without the disadvantages just mentioned, if an ink supply command signal is produced in association with the upward movement of the copy sheet feed tray, which takes place when the copy sheets thereon are reduced in number, and only when a copy sheet feed operation is performed. The ink supply device of this invention meets these requirements, and its function will now be explained in detail.

In FIG. 2, when copy sheets 32 on the feed tray are reduced in number, feed roller 33 moves downwardly and supports 35 supporting roller 33, pivot slightly counterclockwise about 'shaft 36. Support 55, shown in FIG. 3, also secured to shaft 36 so as to be fixed with respect to supports 35 also pivots counterclockwise and causes, through screw 56, charging member 57 to pivot counterclockwise. This pivotal movement of charging member 57 takes place each time a copy sheet is fed, so that resilient energy is stored in spring 61. When the resilient energy stored in spring 61 reaches a predetermined value, or when about copy sheets have been fed and the stack of copy sheets 32 is reduced by 10, first locking member 59 tends to pivot counterclockwise. v

This pivotal movement of member 59 takes place when the force with which hook 59b of locking member 59 engages bent portion 62a of drive member 62 is reduced. More specifically, when roller 65 of member 62 rides on protuberance 51c of feed cam 51, to pivot slightly in a clockwise direction, and the bias of spring 64, which causes bent portion 62a to engage hook 59b, is reduced, first locking member 59 pivots counterclockwise under the bias of spring 61, thereby releasing drive member 62 from engagement therewith.

As cam 51 rotates, drive member 62 pivots about shaft 63 counterclockwise so that roller 65 comes into engagement with minor diameter portion 51b and major diameter portion 51a in succession. While this pivotal movement takes place, ratchet wheel 68 is angularly displaced by pawl 56 in a clockwise direction, and rotates gear 71, shown in FIG. 2, which is substantially fixed with ratchet wheel 68, so that copy sheet feed tray 31 is moved upwardly. Such upward movement of the feed tray occurs each time about 10 copy sheets are reduced or removed from the stack of copy sheets.

When drive member 62, for moving the copy sheet feed tray 31 upwardly, pivots counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 3, ink supply command lever 72, which is substantially fixed with member 62, also pivots counterclockwise. Slightly before this pivotal movement takes place, roller 16 of follower 15, shown in FIG. 1, is moved outwardly by protuberance 14c ofcam 14 and actuation member 76 pivots slightly in a clockwise direction about shaft 77. As a result of this, a gap is formed between offset portion 74b of first locking member 74 and bent portion 760 of the actuation member, so that the force with which these parts press against each other is reduced. If the counterclockwise pivoting of command lever 72 takes place when this condition prevails, first locking member 74 is moved in a clockwise direction about shaft 73 against the bias of spring 75.

When ink supply command lever 72 and first locking member 74 move from their solid line positions to their dash and dot line positions, in FIG. 6, actuating member 76 is unlocked, which permits actuating member 76 to move in slaved relation when follower 15 is pivoted clockwise as viewed in FIG. 5, by a copy sheet feeding operation, so that actuation member 76 is pivoted counterclockwise by the bias of spring 78. This pivotal movement causes hook member 81 to move, in complex movements including pivotal movements about shafts 77 and 82 and a linear movement. These movements are closely related to the quantity of ink supplied, as will be described.

It is to be understood that, when no copy sheet is fed, actuation member 76 is not rendered operative in spite of the operation of command lever 72, because follower 15 is held against movement by detector 24, as shown in FIG. 4. In this case, actuation member 76 only moves between the solid line position and the dash and dot line position shown in FIG. 4, as actuation cam 14 rotates and does not perform an ink supply operation subsequently to be described. As a result, when the ink supply command lever 72 is made inoperative as tray 31 is moved upwardly consecutively, either automatically or manually at the time the stack of copy sheets 32 is placed on tray 31, no ink is supplied unnecessarily to printing cylinder 1.

If member 76 pivots counterclockwise when ink supply regulating lever 83 is set at a zero position, as shown in FIG. 1, then hook member 81, pivotally connected at its base to the free end of arm 76b, pivots counterclockwise about shaft 77. Since hook member 81 is pivotal with respect to actuation member 76, it is pivoted counterclockwise about shaft 82 by the bias of spring 91. The amount of pivotal movement of hook member 81 with respect to actuation member 76 is determined by the provision of pin 83a of regulating lever 83, and the angle through which shaft 82, pivotally supporting hook member 81, rotates about shaft 77.

Conversely speaking, the amount of pivotal movement is equal to the amount of pivotal movement of hook member 81, which takes place when regulating lever 83 is pivoted clockwise through an angle through which actuation member 76 pivots when actuation member 76 is held in its position shown in FIG. 1. If the pivotal movement of hook member 81 about shaft 77, caused by the counterclockwise pivoting of actuation member 76, is considered to be its movement around shaft 77, then the pivotal movement of member 81 about shaft 82 is considered its pivoting about its own axis. Hook member 81 thus moves, in a compound motion which combines a movement around shaft 77 and the movement on its own axis about shaft 82, when actuation member 76 executes a pivotal movement.

If member 76 moves, in slaved relation to the movement of roller shaft 79, from a solid line position to its dash and dot line position in FIG. 6, while regulating lever 83 is set at the zero position shown in FIG. 1, hook member 81 moves from a solid line position to a dash and dot line position 81A in the aforementioned complex motion, with a result that hook 81b of member 81 engages pin 89a of operation member 89 and holds the same in place as shown in FIG. 6. Stated differently, if actuation member 76 and hook member 81, in their dash and dot line positions in FIG. 6 were restored to their solid line positions, hook 81b of member 81 would not move pin 89a of operation member 89, but would slip out of engagement therewith, so that operation member 89 would not be pivoted about shaft 88. It will be understood that the lower edge of short arm 81a of hook member 81 is maintained pressed against pin 83a by the bias of spring 91.

As previously mentioned, operation member 89 is adapted to move shaft 92 of ink supply pump 13 linearly, so as to deliver ink to the ink supply line 12 shown in FIG. 1. Operation member 89 can be actuated by manually operating an operation handle 89b, or can be automatically pulled and moved by hook member 81 during pivoting of the latter. When regulating lever 83 is set at the zero position, hook 81b of member 81 does not catch hold of pin 89a, as mentioned, in spite of the pivotal movement of the hook member, so that operation member 89 is not actuated and accordingly no ink is supplied to cylinder 1.

If ink supply regulating lever 83 is pivoted clockwise, in FIG. 6, to set the lever at any level within the range of the characters 84, then hook member 81 pivots counterclockwise about shaft 82 is slaved relation to the movement of pin 83a of lever 83. As a result, the distance between hook 81b of member 81 and shaft 77 is slightly reduced. If an ink supply command is given to command lever 72 at this time, and actuation member 76 pivots counterclockwise, then a front edge 81c of hook member 81 is brought into abutting engagement with pin 890 during its complex movement. Hook member 81, which is prevented from completing its movement on its own axis about shaft 82, moves upwardly and leftwardly substantially in linear motion while it pivots around shaft 77 or while operation member 76 pivots further. That is, hook member 81 moves in a complex movement comprising a movement around shaft 77 and a counterclockwise movement about its own axis on shaft 82, in the same manner as when operation lever 83 is set at the zero position, until front edge 81c abuts pin 89a and the movement of member 81 about its own axis is thereby prevented. However, after abutment of front edge 810 with pin 89a occurs, hook member 81 moves leftwardly and upwardly substantially in linear motion, while moving slightly clockwise about shaft 82, until hook 81b engages pin 89a.

As set forth above, the ratio of the pivotal movements of hook member 81 around shaft 77 and about its own axis on shaft 82, to the linear movement thereof, is determined by the level at which regulating lever 83 is set. If the supply of ink is set at a lower level, the pivotal movements of hook member 81 will be relatively large and the linear movement thereof will be relatively small in magnitude. If the supply of ink is set at a higher level, the pivotal movements of member 81 will be relatively small and the linear movement thereof will be relatively large in magnitude.

FIG. 7 shows regulating lever 83 set at the highest level in the range of characters 84. When actuating member 76 is actuated to pivot from the solid line position to the dash and dot line position 76A, hook member 81 moves substantially in linear movement to cause hook 81b to engage pin 89a of operation member 89, as shown in dash and dot lines. Linear movement of hook member 81 always produces a gap between the lower edge of short arm 81a and pin 83a of regulating lever 83. The dimension of this gap is directly related to the quantity of ink supplied, as will be described. It will be evident that the dimension of the gap is proportional to the level at which regulating lever 83 is set. When lever 83 is set at zero, short arm 81a and pin 83a merely move slightly in sliding motion relative to each other, while being maintained in engagement with each other, as explained with reference to FIG. 6.

When roller 16 of follower 15, shown in FIG. 1, is released from engagement with minor diameter portion 14b of cam 14 and rides on major diameter portion 14a again, and its shaft 79 is moved outwardly from the dash and dot line position to the solid line position shown in FIG. 7, actuation member 76 is pivoted clockwise against the bias of spring 78. During this latter pivotal movement, hook member 81 pulls pin 89a downwardly from the dash and dot line position C to the solid line position, as shown in FIG. 8. Consequently, operation member 89 is pivoted clockwise about shaft 88 and pulls shaft 92 of pump 13 horizontally, as illustrated in FIG. 8, to deliver automatically a quantity of ink to ink supply line 12, shown in FIG. 1.

The quantity of ink delivered to supply line 12 is discharged through the small openings 12a onto the periphery of cylinder 12.

In FIG. 8, hook member 81 moves rightwardly and downwardly in linear motion, as shown, when actuation member 76 has pivoted from the dash and dot line position to the solid line position and operation member 89 has moved from its position in FIG. 7 to its position in FIG. 8, with a result that the lower edge of short arm 81a is brought into abutment with pin 83a of regulating lever 83.

On the other hand, shaft 79 which pivots actuation member 76 clockwise moves until roller 16 rides on protuberance 14c of cam 14, or until it reaches the dash and dot line position B shown in FIG. 8, so that actuation member 76 is pivoted slightly further in a clockwise direction from the solid line position shown in FIG. 8 or to a position which corresponds to the solid line position shown in FIG. 7. However, since the lower edge of short arm 81a of hook member 81 is maintained pressing against pin 83a, as shown, hook member 81 is prevented from moving linearly and pivots clockwise about shaft 82 against the bias of spring 91. As a result of this pivotal movement of book member 81, pin 89a, which is caught by book 81b is released, so that operation member 89 is pivoted back to its original position shown in FIG. 7, by the bias of spring 91.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, regulating lever 83 is set at substantially its highest level, so that book member 81 moves substantially linearly when actuation member 76 is pivoted. Because of this, the gap between the lower edge of short arm 81a and pin 83a becomes a maximum in the position shown, and operation member 89, which is pulled until short arm 81a abuts pin 83a, supplies a maximum quantity of ink in the position of the part shown in FIG. 8.

If regulating lever 83 is set at a suitable level by pivoting the same counterclockwise from its position shown in FIG. 7, then the gap between short arm 81a and pin 830, formed when hook 81b of member 81 catches pin 89a, is reduced. Accordingly, short arm 81a is abutted against pin 83a before hook member 81 moves operation member 89 to its position shown in FIG. 8. As a consequence, operation member 89 is pivoted in an amount corresponding to the position at which ink supply regulating lever 83 is set, and actuates ink supply pump 13 accordingly. It will be understood that, by operating regulating lever 83 from outside the mimeographing machine, and setting it at a suitable level, it is possible to adjust the time at which hook member 81 connected to the pivotal actuation member 76 catches hold of operation member 89, whereby the quantity of ink supplied to the printing cylinder can be readily regulated by means of a simple construction.

As described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5, first locking member 59, shown in FIG. 3, is actuated and unlocks drive member 62 when feed roller 33 moves downwardly a predetermined amount as a result of a decrease in the number of copy sheets 32 on tray 31. An ink supply command signal is produced as drive member 62 executes a pivotal movement for lifting feed tray 31, and this signal actuates ink supply command lever 72 so as to render the ink supply mechanism operative. Thereby, a suitable quantity of ink is supplied to the printing cylinder.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.

What is claimed is:

1. An ink supply device, in combination with a mimeographing machine having a printing cylinder, a tray supporting a stack of copy sheets, an impression roller operable to press copy sheets against the printing cylinder, and sheet feeding means operable to feed copy sheets from the stack between the impression roller and the printing cylinder, said device comprising, in combination, an ink supply line adjacent said cylinder to supply ink thereto; an ink supply pump operable to supply ink to said supply line; an operation member operable to actuate said pump; a hook member operable to engage and actuate said operation member to actuate said pump; lock means normally locking said hook member against movement; hook member operating means operable in accordance with operation of said printing cylinder to actuate said hook member, only when said hook member has been released by said lock means, to actuate said operation member to actuate said pump; and means operable, each time the stack height has been reduced by a predetermined number of sheets, to release said lock means from said hook member for one such actuation of said pump and then to reengage said lock means with said hook member after a predetermined angular movement of said printing cylinder; whereby ink is supplied to said printing cylinder, during operation of the mimeographing machine, only responsive to printing of a predetermined number of sheets.

2. The combination, as claimed in claim 1, in which said hook member operating means comprises an actuation cam rotatable in accordance with rotation of said printing cylinder, a pivotally mounted follower pivoted by said cam, a pivotally mounted actuation member pivotal by said follower, and a locking member providing for pivotal movement of said actuation member when the stack height has been reduced by said predetermined number of copy sheets.

3. The combination, as claimed in claim 1, including detecting means operatively associated with said sheet feeding means and controlling said hook member operating means; said detecting means providing for operation of said hook member operating means only when a copy sheet is fed between said printing cylinder and said impression roller.

4. An ink supply device in combination with a mimeographing machine having a printing cylinder, a tray supporting a stack of copy sheets, an impression roller operable to press copy sheets against the printing cylinder, and sheet feeding means operable to feed copy sheets from the stack between the impression roller and the printing cylinder, said device comprising, in combination, an ink supply line adjacent said cylinder to supply ink thereto; an ink supply pump operable to supply ink to said supply line; an operation member operable to actuate said pump; a hook member operable to engage and actuate said operation member to actuate said pump; lock means operable to lock said hook member against movement when the copy sheet stack has a predetermined height, said lock means being releasable from said hook member after the stack height has been reduced by a predetermined number of copy sheets; hook member operating means operable in accordance with operation of said printing cylinder to actuate said hook member; said hook member operating means comprising an actuation cam rotatable in accordance with rotation of said printing cylinder, a pivotally mounted follower pivoted by said cam, a pivotally mounted actuation member pivotal by said follower, and a locking member providing for pivotal movement of said actuation member when the stack height has been reduced by said predetermined number of copy sheets; means pivotally connecting said hook member to said actuation member; a spring biasing said hook member to move in a direction to engage said operation member; and a pin engaging said hook member and preventing such movement of said hook member; whereby, said actuation member is pivoted, said hook member pivots both around the axis of said actuation member and about it own pivotal mounting, so that said hook member can be brought into engagement with said operation member.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 4, including an adjustable ink supply regulating member carrying said pin; and an operating member for said regulating member accessible from the exterior of the mimeographing machine; whereby the angle through which said hook member pivots relative to said actuation member can be varied by adjusting said regulating member from a point outside the mimeographing machine.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 5, in which said regulating member comprises a lever pivoted intermediate its ends, said pin being mounted at a first end of said lever; the opposite end of said lever having an arcuate extension formed with an arcuate slot; and a fixed pin engaged in said slot and limiting angular movement of said regulating member; said arcuate extension carrying indicia arranged along said slot.

7. An ink supply device, in combination with a mimeographing machine having a printing cylinder, a tray supporting a stack of copy sheets, an impression roller operable to press copy sheets against the printing cylinder, and sheet feeding means operable to feed copy sheets from the stack between the impression roller and the printing cylinder, said device comprising, in combination, an ink supply line adjacent said cylinder to supply ink thereto; an ink supply pump operable to supply ink to said supply line; an operation member operable to actuate said pump; a hook member operable to engage and actuate said operation member to actuate said pump; lock means operable to lock said hook and having one arm operatively connected to said pump; said hook member comprising a pivotally mounted lever having a hook on its free end; said operation member carrying a pin engageable by said hook; and spring means interconnecting the other arm of said operation member and said hook member. 

1. An ink supply device, in combination with a mimeographing machine having a printing cylinder, a tray supporting a stack of copy sheets, an impression roller operable to press copy sheets against the printing cylinder, and sheet feeding means operable to feed copy sheets from the stack between the impression roller and the printing cylinder, said device comprising, in combination, an ink supply line adjacent said cylinder to supply ink thereto; an ink supply pump operable to supply ink to said supply line; an operation member operable to actuate said pump; a hook member operable to engage and actuate said operation member to actuate said pump; lock means normally locking said hook member against movement; hook member operating means operable in accordance with operation of said printing cylinder to actuate said hook member, only when said hook member has been released by said lock means, to actuate said operation member to actuate said pump; and means operable, each time the stack height has been reduced by a predetermined number of sheets, to release said lock means from said hook member for one such actuation of said pump and then to re-engage said lock means with said hook member after a predetermined angular movement of said printing cylinder; whereby ink is supplied to said printing cylinder, during operation of the mimeographing machine, only responsive to printing of a predetermined number of sheets.
 2. The combination, as claimed in claim 1, in which said hook member operating means comprises an actuation cam rotatable in accordance with rotation of said printing cylinder, a pivotally mounted follower pivoted by said cam, a pivotally mounted actuation member pivotal by said follower, and a locking member providing for pivotal movement of said actuation member when the stack height has been reduced by said predetermined number of copy sheets.
 3. The combination, as claimed in claim 1, including detecting means operatively associated with said sheet feeding means and controlling said hook member operating means; said detecting means providing for operation of said hook member operating means only when a copy sheet is fed between said printing cylinder and said impression roller.
 4. An ink supply device in combination with a mimeographing machine having a printing cylinder, a tray supporting a stack of copy sheets, an impression roller operable to press copy sheets against the printing cylinder, and sheet feeding means operable to feed copy sheets from the stack between the impression roller and the printing cylinder, said device comprising, in combination, an ink supply line adjacent said cylinder to supply ink thereto; an ink supply pump operable to supply ink to said supply line; an operation member operable to actuate said pump; a hook member operable to engage and actuate said operation member to actuate said pump; lock means operable to lock said hook member against movement when the copy sheet stack has a predetermined height, said lock means being releasable from said hook member after the stack height has been reduced by a predetermined number of copy sheets; hook member operating means operable in accordance with operation of said printing cylinder to actuate said hook member; said hook member operating means comprising an actuation cam rotatable in accordance with Rotation of said printing cylinder, a pivotally mounted follower pivoted by said cam, a pivotally mounted actuation member pivotal by said follower, and a locking member providing for pivotal movement of said actuation member when the stack height has been reduced by said predetermined number of copy sheets; means pivotally connecting said hook member to said actuation member; a spring biasing said hook member to move in a direction to engage said operation member; and a pin engaging said hook member and preventing such movement of said hook member; whereby, said actuation member is pivoted, said hook member pivots both around the axis of said actuation member and about it own pivotal mounting, so that said hook member can be brought into engagement with said operation member.
 5. The combination as claimed in claim 4, including an adjustable ink supply regulating member carrying said pin; and an operating member for said regulating member accessible from the exterior of the mimeographing machine; whereby the angle through which said hook member pivots relative to said actuation member can be varied by adjusting said regulating member from a point outside the mimeographing machine.
 6. The combination as claimed in claim 5, in which said regulating member comprises a lever pivoted intermediate its ends, said pin being mounted at a first end of said lever; the opposite end of said lever having an arcuate extension formed with an arcuate slot; and a fixed pin engaged in said slot and limiting angular movement of said regulating member; said arcuate extension carrying indicia arranged along said slot.
 7. An ink supply device, in combination with a mimeographing machine having a printing cylinder, a tray supporting a stack of copy sheets, an impression roller operable to press copy sheets against the printing cylinder, and sheet feeding means operable to feed copy sheets from the stack between the impression roller and the printing cylinder, said device comprising, in combination, an ink supply line adjacent said cylinder to supply ink thereto; an ink supply pump operable to supply ink to said supply line; an operation member operable to actuate said pump; a hook member operable to engage and actuate said operation member to actuate said pump; lock means operable to lock said hook member against movement when the copy sheet stack has a predetermined height, said lock means being releasable from said hook member after the stack height has been reduced by a predetermined number of copy sheets; hook member operating means operable in accordance with operation of said printing cylinder to actuate said hook member; said operation member comprising a lever pivotally mounted intermediate its ends and having one arm operatively connected to said pump; said hook member comprising a pivotally mounted lever having a hook on its free end; said operation member carrying a pin engageable by said hook; and spring means interconnecting the other arm of said operation member and said hook member. 